Refreshed Cyclones head to MorriltonRussellville Cyclones first-year head coach Billy Dawson hopes his team is in game shape on Friday when they take on the Morrilton Devil Dogs at Devil Dog Stadium. “They’ve definitely put the time in,” Dawson said. “You don’t know what all that work translates to until you see it. I know we are better than we were in January. I think you’ll see this team get better each week, but we are playing a whole lot of kids who haven’t played a lot of f...

RJHS ready for home openerMichael Smith isn’t nervous about his debut as Russellville Junior High School Whirlwinds head football coach today against the Morrilton Junior Devil Pups at Cyclone Stadium. “I think I’m ready,” he said. “Hopefully the kids will be ready as well.” Smith was one of several coaches brought in by Cyclones head coach Billy Dawson during the offseason. Today’s game will be his first regular-season outing with the Whirlwinds, but Smith said he was...

Wonder Boys open season tonight on road with SNUA new-look offense directed by a new coordinator and a new quarterback makes its debut tonight for Arkansas Tech University. The Wonder Boys will begin the 101st season of Arkansas Tech football by visiting Southern Nazarene University for a Great American Conference contest in Bethany, Okla. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The game can be heard over KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com. Defensive improvement has been the hallmark of Raymond...

by
ATU Athletic CommunicationsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

McFadden on board if Dallas replaces Murray by committee IRVING, Texas (AP) — Darren McFadden wants to be one of the replacements for NFL rushing champion DeMarco Murray. If he is one of two, or even three, running backs trying to match the production Murray gave NFC East champion Dallas last season, that's fine, too. McFadden is used to it. "It's something I've done pretty much throughout my career, at school or being with the Raiders," said McFadden, the fourth overall pick out of Arkansas by Oakl...

Current, former Razorbacks plead not guilty to forgery FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — One current and one former Arkansas Razorbacks basketball player have pleaded not guilty to felony forgery charges. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/1NNrbZj ) that Anton Beard and Jacorey Williams entered the pleas Wednesday in Washington County Circuit Court. Beard is charged with three counts of first-degree forgery and Williams is charged with one count for allegedly using counterfeit money at b...

USOC endorses Los Angeles for 2024 OlympicsLOS ANGELES — The U.S. Olympic Committee on Tuesday named Los Angeles as its candidate for the 2024 Games, replacing Boston’s soured bid and marking a comeback for LA’s dream of becoming a three-time Olympic host. The announcement by USOC CEO Scott Blackmun came under a summer sun at Santa Monica Beach, where the city’s plan calls for staging beach volleyball on the site where the sport was founded. “I want to thank Los Angeles for standing up...

Warriors, Panthers prepare for ‘Battle on 64’LAMAR — For the Clarksville Panthers and the Lamar Warriors, there can be only one king of Johnson County — and that king will reign after Friday’s game at Warriors Field in what the locals have dubbed “The Battle on 64.” On one side, you have Clarksville — the bigger, Class 5A school, with numbers to spare. On the other, there’s Lamar — a giant in its own right. The Warriors sit on top the 3A-4 Conference and possibly the entire 3A classifica...

Dardanelle wins final Judges CupDARDANELLE — Josh Price wasn’t exactly happy with the Dardanelle Sand Lizards’ 42-0 win over the Danville Little Johns during the last installment of the Judges Cup at Keenan Field. Price said there were too many mental mistakes. “We looked like we practiced yesterday,” Price said. “Horrible. Just a horrible job by my seniors. There are numerous things we are going to have to work on if we’re going to have success going forward. We had too man...

Pottsville tennis tops DardanellePOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville Apaches and Lady Apaches tennis teams hosted Dardanelle in their first 4A-4 Conference bout of the season on Thursday. “The energy and excitement was palpable as we stepped on our new courts for our first home match,” Pottsville head coach Keri McAlister said. “We feel so blessed to have the courts on our campus.” Pottsville won 10 of 13 matches on Thursday over Dardanelle in front of what McAlister described as a “...

Dover, Atkins set for Rivals CupDOVER — There was no hesitation in Atkins athletic director Charlie Sorrels voice when asked if the Rivals Cup could disappear like the neighboring Judges Cup between Dardanelle and Danville. “Oh, we’ll keep it going,” Sorrels said. “We used to play Pottsville and Dardanelle and Dover, and when they all moved up we said, ‘we’re keeping Dover.’ It’s a long running rivalry.” When the Atkins Red Devils head to Jack Berry Field on Friday to take o...

Dardanelle hosts Danville for final Judges CupDARDANELLE — The Dardanelle Sand Lizards and Danville Little Johns couldn’t wait until Friday to square off for the 2015 Judges Cup. The teams will play on Tuesday at Keenan Field. “We’re excited,” Dardanelle head coach Josh Price said. “It’s been four weeks of nothing but practice, week after week. We’re ready to get in there and get our routine going.” And what better way than against long-standing rival Danville? The Little Johns have lost ...

Mascot fight in Ohio goes down to the wireCOLUMBUS, Ohio — A high school football team that has featured a tiger cub at games for decades might kick off the season without its beloved mascot because of rules implemented after a suicidal man released dozens of dangerous animals in 2011. Boosters typically lease a cub called Obie each year to play the mascot of Massillon’s Washington High School Tigers, whose rich football tradition includes helping launch the career of Cleveland Browns...

Russellville tennis wins conference opener, 7-1ALMA — The Cyclones and Lady Cyclones tennis team opened 7A/6A-Central Conference action on Thursday at the Alma Aquatic Park and Tennis Center. The Cyclones won 7-of-8 varsity matches to take the win. Russellville was led by dual singles wins from Siam Hooks and Peyton Golden. The doubles team of Bryce Johnson and Carter Thessing finished the action with two decisive wins to anchor the competition for the men. The Lady Cyclones won 5-4 over t...

by
Courier sports staffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Lady Cyclones remain unbeaten Russellville Lady Cyclones head volleyball coach Cindy Jones said she schedules a nonconference game against the Fort Smith Southside Lady Rebels every year for one reason — to test her team against one of the best teams in the state. If it was a test, it’s one the Lady Cyclones passed 27-25, 25-20, 13-25, 18-25, 15-8 on Thursday inside Cyclone Gymnasium. It is only the fifth time in 16 years Russellville (3-0) has snagged a win from the Lady ...

Morrison serves Cyclones football for 13 seasonsMichael Morrison watched the play unfold: The hand off went to a running back from Fort Smith Northside and down the visitor sideline at Mayo-Thompson Stadium. When the Cyclones made the tackle, Morrison couldn’t move in time. Several players careened out of bounds and crashed into him. Morrison’s walker took the brunt of the damage, as someone pulled him to safety in the nick of time. “After the game, I saw him having some trouble,” former Cy...

RHS volleyball opens season with winsThe Russellville Lady Cyclones volleyball team came out on top of a tri-match against the Paris Lady Eagles and the Morrilton Lady Devil Dogs on Tuesday inside Cyclone Gymnasium. Russellville (2-0) defeated Paris 25-15, 25-12 and Morrilton 25-17, 25-9. The Lady Eagles took a 4-1 lead early in the first match, but the Lady Cyclones zeroed in to win the game. “Paris always has a good team,” Russellville head coach Cindy Jones said. “And they did...

RJHS volleyball opens season with sweepThe Russellville Junior High School (RJHS) Lady Whirlwinds volleyball team opened its season with a sweep of the North Little Rock Junior Lady Wildcats on Monday at Whirlwind Gymnasium. The eighth grade team won 25-16, 25-18. Hannah Vines scored five points, while Megan Fleming scored two points and two aces. Gracie Palmer scored six points and two aces. The ninth grade team won 25-18, 25-21. Kasey Heath had seven points, a block and three ace...

RHS tennis falls against Van BurenThe Russellville Cyclones and Lady Cyclones tennis teams fell to Van Buren on Tuesday at the RHS Cyclone tennis courts. The Lady Cyclones doubles team of Paige Havner and Shelby Scott were the only varsity winners in Tuesday’s nonconference match. Havner and Scott topped Betsy Corona and Lauren Cervantes 8-6. “This was the first time they played together, and I’m very proud of them,” Russellville head coach Bill Rowlett said. RHS’ Peyton Golde...

Man catches 51-pound catfishTHE COURIER / Travis Simpson Hubert Lackey hefts a 51-pound catfish he caught on the Arkansas River below the Lock and Dam on Tuesday. Lackey appeared in the Aug. 12 edition of The Courier with a five-fish haul of 28, 27, 26, 24 and one unweighed fish.